Variety of dicentra plant named ‘Red Fountain’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Dicentra peregrina×eximia  plant named ‘Red Fountain’ with dark burgundy flowers, good vigor, a compact habit and long flowering period.

Botanical classification: Dicentra peregrina×eximia.

Varietal denomination: ‘Red Fountain’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Dicentraperegrina×eximia known by the varietal name ‘Red Fountain’. The newvariety was discovered in Hokkaido, Japan in May of 2004. The newvariety has been asexually reproduced via tissue culture or cuttings,and the first date of asexual reproduction was in February of 2005 inHokkaido, Japan. The new variety is the result of a planned breedingprogram cross between an unpatented, unnamed Dicentra peregrina plant(female parent) and an unpatented, unnamed Dicentra eximia plant (maleparent). The purpose of the breeding program was to develop newvarieties that exhibit improvements in vigor and longer floweringperiods. The new variety exhibits similar form and foliage to bothparents, but does have a more improved vigor, more flowers, and a longerflowering period than both parents. ‘Red Fountain’ exhibits similarfoliage, habit, and vigor to Dicentra peregrina×eximia ‘Candy Hearts’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,692), but has a different flower color than‘Candy Hearts’. The new variety has been trial and field tested and hasbeen found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true totype through successive propagations. The following characteristicsdistinguish ‘Red Fountain’ from other varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Compact, more upright habit;    -   2. Good vigor with strong growth;    -   3. Strong, more rhizomatous root system; and    -   4. Long flowering period from late April until September.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a close up view of the blossoms of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a view of a field of the new variety

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the blossoms of the new variety; and

FIG. 4 is a close up view of the foliage of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar grown outside in the open ground with no extra fertilizerin The Netherlands. The color readings were taken in The Netherlands innatural daylight. Plants of the new cultivar were approximately fourmonths old when described as the plugs were planted in May and themeasurements were taken in early September. Color references areprimarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 21 days at about 15° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 49 days at about 15° C.-   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:    About 70–84 days.-   Rooting habit: Fine rhizomatous root system.-   Form: Low spreading mounded foliage.-   Stem: Not present; the foliage and flowers arise directly from the    root system.-   Height: Approximately 30 cm.-   Plant diameter: 30–40 cm.-   Vigor: Good.-   Branching habit: Non-branching.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Petioles arise from the base.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: 10–12 cm. Width: 10–12 cm.        -   Leaflets.—Shape of leaflet: Rounded, but deeply cut. Number:            5–7. Width: Approximately 5 cm. Length: Approximately 6 cm.            Shape of apex: Acute. Shape of base: Uneven. Texture:            Glabrous. Margin type: Fern-like, deeply cut. Pubescence:            Upper surface: Both glabrous and glaucous. Lower surface:            Both glabrous and slightly glaucous. Color: Young leaflet:            Upper surface: 138A. Lower surface: 138B. Mature leaflet:            Upper surface: 189A. Lower surface: 191A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 12 cm. Diameter: 3–4 mm.            Color: 138A, flushed from 59A to 59B.

FLOWER

-   Bud: Stage of development when bud characteristics determined: Just    before opening.    -   -   Shape.—Pitcher-shaped.        -   Diameter.—10 mm.        -   Length.—22–23 mm.        -   Color.—60A.-   Natural flowering season: Mid-April until late September, depending    on temperature.-   Flower type and habit:    -   -   Panicle.—Shape: Tightly packed. Number of flowers per            panicle: 16 or more flowers. Length of pedicel: 10–20 mm.            Length of peduncle: 20–24 cm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Zygomorphic; fused petals (lobed).        -   Petals.—Total number: 4 in 2 pairs. Outer pairs: Number: 1.            Length: 18 mm. Width: Minimum of 4 mm to a maximum of 8 mm.            Shape: Fused; cordate. Aspect: Pendant; nodding. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: When opening: Upper surface:            60A. Lower surface: 65D. Fully opened: Upper surface: 60A.            Lower surface: 65D. Inner pairs: Number: 1. Length: 20 mm.            Width: 4–5 mm. Shape: Fused tube. Aspect: Pendant; hanging.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: When opening: Upper            surface: 60A. Lower surface: 65D. Fully opened: Upper            surface: 60A. Lower surface: 65D.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Vestigial in two halves.        -   Length.—2–3 mm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Sepal shape.—Acute.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture.—Glabrous.        -   Sepal size.—Length: 2–3 mm. Width: 2 mm.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: 59A. Lower surface: 59B.-   Fragrance: Lightly fragrant.-   Disease resistance: Good, slightly susceptible to Phytophora.-   Temperature tolerance: Between −10° C. to +30° C.-   Lasting quality: Excellent; lasting up to 3 weeks depending on    weather conditions.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2 per flower.        -   Filaments.—Length: 20 mm. Fused: Yes. Color: 155C.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Triform. Length: 2 mm. Color: 17A.        -   Pollen.—Color: 17A. Amount: Little.-   Pistils:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 20 mm. Style: Length.—11–12 mm. Color:            144B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: 144A.-   Seed/fruit production: None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Dicentra peregrina×eximia plant named‘Red Fountain’ substantially as shown and described herein.